Lid remover



p 1965 F. A. SCHMIDLECHNER 3,204,494

LID REMOVER Filed Nov. 26, 1962 INVENTOR. Fran/v2 A I SCHMIDLECHNE Z ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,204,494 LID REMOVER Franz A. Schmidlechner, 1342 N. Laurel Ave., Los Angeles, Calif. Filed Nov. 26, 1962, Ser. No. 239,984 11) Claims. (Cl. til-3.44)

This invention relates to an improved device for removing a lid or cover from a jar or other container.

Though various types of devices have been proposed in the past for use in unscrewing jar lids, non of these have proven sufiiciently practical to have enjoyed large scale use and sale. The average home today does not have any such lid removing tool, and as a result most persons still find it necessary to open jars entirely by hand, without an adequate tool of any type.

The general object of the present invention is to provide a lid removing device which is capable of very rapidly and easily gripping the lid of a container, and then with maximum facility turning the lid relative to the container to unscrew it therefrom. The tool has sufficient leverage to assure tight retention of the engaged lid, and yet attains this leverage with an extremely simple structural arrangement. In addition, a tool embodying the invention may be designed to grip lids of any size within a very wide range of sizes, from very small bottle caps to the largest jar lids or covers which are conventionally encountered.

structurally, a lid remover embodying the invention includes twostructures which are mounted for movement relative to one another, and which preferably take the form of two handles adapted to be manually actuated together by a plier type action, with these two structures being connected together by a link which is pivoted at two spaced locations to the two structures respectively. This link then requires bodily shifting movement of one of the structures relative to the other, in a direction causing jaws associated with the structures to grip a jar lid, in response to movement of the two structures relatively toward or away from one another. Desirably, the two structures are interconnected by a second link, pivoted at two additional locations to the two structures respectively, and coacting with the first link and the two relatively movable structure to maximize the gripping effectiveness attained by the device.

To facilitate use of the tool on different sizes of lids, the movable parts may be provided with a plurality of different sets of gripping jaws, forming between the jaws lid receiving spaces of different sizes. Certain particular features of the invention reside in the desired positioning and construction of these various jaw elements or gripping jaw surfaces.

The above and other features and objects of the present invention will be better understood from the following detailed description of the typical embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a lid removing tool constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective representation of the opposite side of the tool;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view of the tool in its open condition;

FIG. 4 is a transverse section taken on line 44 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary section taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 3.

The form of the invention illustrated in the figures at includes a first and main part 11 forming a handle at 12, a second handle element 13, and two interconnecting links 14 and 15. The handle elements are yieldingly urged relatively apart by a spring 16.

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All four of the elements 11, 13, 14 and 15 may be formed of rigid sheet metal, such as steel, deformed to the illustrated configuration. The main part 11 of the device has a primary planar portion 17 lying in the plane designated 18 in FIG. 4, and extending from and end edge 19 to the location of a pair of gripping jaws 20 and 21 formed at the opposite end of the part. Near the end 19 of part 12, the sheet material forming this part is deformed laterally at 22 (FIG. 5), and then downwardly at 23 parallel to main planar portion 17, to the U-shaped cross-sectional configuration illustrated in FIG. 5. Thus, the portions 17, 22 and 23 form together the first handle 12 of the device. The cross web 22 of the handle may terminate at 25, at seen in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3.

At the lid engaging end of the device, portion 17 of element 11 may be cut to the shape illustrated best in FIG. 3, to form two arms 26 and 27. The extremities of these arms are turned to form the two gripping jaws 20 and 21, extending perpendicular to plane 18 of portion 17, and turned to the same side of portion 17 as is the handle Web 22. As seen best in FIG. 3, the jaw 20 has a main portion 28 and a short inturned portion 29 for biting into and gripping an engaged jar lid. Similarly, jaw 21 has a main portion 30 and a short inturned portion 31 for biting into the lid. At the opposite side of portion 17 of element 11, the material forming this element may form a second pair of gripping jaws 32 and 33, which are also perpendicular to plane 18, and which have edges 34 and 35 for engaging and biting into a jar lid being removed.

Part 13 is formed of an elongated strip of rigid sheet metal having a portion 36 lying essentially in the plane designated 119 in FIG. 4, to be parallel to and closely adjacent to portion 17 of element 11. At its extremity, portion 36 of part 13 is turned to form a gripping jaw 37 extending perpendicular to plane 19 and having an edge 38 adapted to grip a lid. At the location designated 39 in the figures, the material of part 13 may be formed slightly laterally to form another portion 40 of element 13 lying in the plane designated 120 in FIG. 4, which plane corresponds to that of portion 23 of element 11. T he outer end of part 13 may be turned to form a handle portion 41 which may extend parallel to cross piece or web 22 of element 11, to facilitate gripping of the part 13 by a user. It is contemplated that a gripping cover of soft resinous plastic material, such as polyethylene or a vinyl plastic, may be provided at 42 on the handle end portion 41 of element 13.

Link 14 may lie in plane 119 of FIG. 4, to be receivable between portions 17 and 23 of element 11 (see FIG. 5), and is connected by a pin 43 to part 11 for pivotal movement about an axis 44 extending perpendicular to all of the planes 18, 119 and 120. The opposite end of link 14 is connected by a second pin 45 to portion 40 of element 13, for pivotal movement about a second axis 46 extending parallel to axis 44. The second link 15 is similarly connected at its opposite ends by pins 47 and 48 to parts 11 and 13 respectively, for relative pivotal movement about two additional axes 49 and 50 (FIG. 4) extending parallel to axes 44 and 46. To enable connection of line 15 to both of the parts 11 and 13, the link may be deformed slightly at 51, so that its upper portion may lie in plane 119, while its lower end may lie in plane 120. Also, it is noted that link 15 is preferably substantially shorter than link 14, in order to optimize the gripping eifectiveness of the device. Desirably, link 15 is not more than about one-half as long as link 14 (for best results approximately equal to one-half that length), with the links of course being measured between their respective pivotal axes 44 and 46, and 49 and 50.

Spring 16 for yieldingly urging parts 11 and 13 relatively apart may be an essentially conventional type of spring, having a coil 52 disposed about an outwardly projecting portion of pin 48, and having an arm 53 bearing in a counterclockwise direction against link (as viewed in FIG. 3) and a second arm 54 hearing in a clockwise direction against part 13. The ends of the arms may of course be received in suitable notches formed in the engaged parts.

The inner surfaces of parts 13 and 14 are pro /ided with serrated gripping irregularities or teeth 55 and 56 for engaging a small size bottle cap, and adapted to coact in gripping relation with either of two similar sets of gripping teeth 57 and 58 formed on portions 17 and 23 respectively of part 11. As will be apparent from FIG. 3, portion 23 of element 11 is cut away relative to portion 17 sufficiently to enable teeth 58 to be recessed farther away from teeth 55 and 56 than are teeth 57. The extremity of link 14 is turned beyond pivot pin 45 to form a gripping jaw 59, which extends perpendicular to planes 18, 119 and 120, and has an edge 60 engageable with and adapted to grip a jar lid.

To now describe the manner of use of the device, assume that first of all it is desired to grip a jar lid of the size illustrated at 61 in FIG. 3, or somewhat smaller than this size. For this average size lid, the jaws 2d, 21 and 37 are employed, with the lid being received between these jaws as shown in the figure. After such positioning of the lid, the user of the device manually actuates handles 41 and 24 relatively together, as to the broken line position of handle 41 represented at 41a in FIG. 3. This pliers-type actuation of the handles relatively toward one another acts through links 14 and 15 to require or cause leftward bodily movement of element 13 relative to element 11. As a result, jaw 37 closes leftwardly toward jaws 2t) and 21, to tightly grip the lid so that it may be turned relative to the jar or other container by which it is carried. In most instances, jaws and 21 will grip the lid primarily through the gripping edges 63 and 64 of their short lugs 29 and 31, and jaw 37 will grip the lid primarily through its edge 38. These edges 38, 63 and 64, as well as the previously mentioned edges 34, and 6d of jaws 32, 33 and 59, desirably all extend parallel to the various axes 44, 46, etc. In some sizes of lids, the inner surfaces of portions 28 and 30 of jaws 20 and 21 may engage the lids, or a series of teeth 65 formed on jaw 37 may engage the lid at the location of that jaw. When the handles are relatively close together, jaw 37 may move to a minimum diameter condition such as that represented at 37a in FIG. 3.

For gripping larger lids, as represented at 66 in FIG. 2, I may utilize jaws 32, 33 and 59, which are spaced considerably farther apart than are jaws 20, 21 and 37. J aw 59 is actuated relatively toward jaws 32 and 33 by the same type of handle closing movement discussed in connection with the first set of jaws.

For very small bottle caps and the like, as represented at 67 in FIG. 3, the gripping surfaces 55, 56 and 57 are employed, which surfaces automatically close toward one another to grip a lid upon actuation of element 13 toward element 11. Slightly larger lids or caps, as represented at 68, may be gripped by surfaces 55, 56 and 58.

What is claimed as new is:

1. A device for removing the lid of a container comprising first and second handle structures manually mova ble toward one another, first gripping jaw means for engaging said lid and operatively carried by said first handle structure for actuation thereby, first link means pivoted at a first location to said first handle structure and pivoted at a second and diiferent location to the second handle structure, second link means pivoted to said handle structures and coacting with said first link means to require bodily shifting movement of one handle structure relative to the other as the two handle structures move relatively toward one another, and second gripping jaw means actuable by said second handle in response to said relative bodily movement of the two handle structures.

2. A device for removing the lid of a container comprising first and second handle structures manually movable toward one another, first gripping jaw means for engaging said lid and operatively carried by said first handle structure for actuation thereby, a first link pivoted at a first location to said first handle structure and pivoted at a second and diiferent location to the second handle structure, a second link pivoted to said handle structures and coacting with said first link to require bodily shifting movement of one handle structure relative to the other as the two handle structures move relatively toward one another, and second gripping jaw means carried essentially by said second handle structure and actuable toward and away from said first jaw means in response to said relative bodily movement of the two handle structures.

3. A device for removing the lid of a container comprising first and second handle structures manually movable toward one another, first gripping jaw means for engaging said lid and operatively carried by said first handle structure for actuation thereby, first link means pivoted at a first location to said first handle structure and pivoted at a second and diiferent location to the second handle structure, second link means pivoted to said handle structures and coacting with said first link means to require bodily shifting movement of one handle structure relative to the other as the two handle structures move relatively toward one another, and second gripping jaw means carried by said first link means at a location to swing toward and away from said first jaw means in response to movement of the first link means occurring upon said relative bodily movement of the two handle structures.

4. A device for removing the lid of a container comprising first and second handle structures manually movable toward one another, first gripping jaw means for engaging said lid and operatively carried by said first handle structure for actuation thereby, a first link pivoted at a first location to said first handle structure and pivoted at a second and different location to the second handle structure, a second link pivoted to said handle structures and coacting with said first link to require bodily shifting movement of one handle structure relative to the other as the two handle structures move relatively toward one another, second gripping jaw means carried essentially by said second handle structure and actuable toward and away from said first jaw means in response to said relative bodily movement of the two handle structures, and third gripping jaw means carried by said first link and coacting with said first and second gripping jaw means to grip three diiferent sides of said lid.

5. A device for removing the lid of a container comprising first and second handle structures manually movable toward one another, first gripping jaw means for engaging said lid and operatively carried by said first handle structure for actuation thereby, a first link pivoted at a first location to said first handle structure and pivoted at a second and difierent location to the second handle structure, a second link pivoted to said handle structures and coacting with said first link to require bodily shifting movement of one handle structure relative to the other as the two handle structures move relatively toward one another, second gripping jaw means actuable by said second handle structure toward and away from said first jaw means in response to said relative bodily movement of the two handle structures, and a spring yieldingly resisting said movement of the two handle structures toward one another.

6. A device for removing the lid of a container comprising first and second handle structures manually movable toward one another, first and second gripping jaws for engaging said lid and operatively carried by said first handle structure for actuation thereby, a first link pivoted at a first location to said first handle structure and pivoted at a second and diiferent location to the second handle structure to require bodily shifting movement of one handle structure, a second link pivoted to said handle structures and coacting with said first link relative to the other as the two handle structures move relatively toward one another, and a third gripping jaw carried by said second handle structure and actuable toward and away from said first and second jaws in response to said relative bodily movement of the two handle structures.

7. A device for removing the lid of a container comprising first and second handle structures manually movable toward one another, first gripping jaw means for engaging said lid and operatively carried by said first handle structure for actuation thereby, a first link pivoted at a first location to said first handle structure and pivoted at a second and dilferent location to the second handle structure, a second link pivoted to said handle structures and coacting with said first link to require bodily shifting movement of one handle structure relative to the other as the two handle structures move relatively toward one another, and second gripping jaw means actuable by said second handle structure toward and away from said first jaw means in response to said relative bodily movement of the two handle structures, one of said handle structures being formed of material doubled back to a generally U- shaped cross-section to present two relatively ofiset edges, and one of said gripping jaw means including two gripping surfaces formed on said two edges respectively and relatively oifset for engagement with different sizes of lids.

8. A device for removing the lid of a container comprising first and second handle structures manually movable toward one another, first gripping jaw means for engaging said lid and operatively carried by said first handle structure for actuation thereby, a first link pivoted at a first axis to said first handle structure and pivoted at a second and different axis to the second handle structure, a second link coacting with said first link to require bod ily shifting movement of one handle structure relative to the other as the two handle structures move relatively to ward one another, said second link being pivoted to said first and second structures respectively at third and fourth axes, offset relative to one another and offset from said first and second axes, and second gripping jaw means actuable by said second handle structure toward and away from said first jaw means in response to said relative bodily movement of the two handle structures.

9. A device for removing the lid of a container comprising first and second handle structures manually movable toward one another, first gripping jaw means for engaging said lid and operatively carried by said first handle structure for actuation thereby, a first link pivoted at a first axis to said first handle structure and pivoted at a second and different axis to the second handle structure, a second link coacting with said first link to require bodily shifting movement of one handle structure relative to the other as the two handle structures move relatively toward one another, said second link being pivoted to said first and second structures, respectively, at third and fourth axes, offset relative to one another and offset from said first and second axes, and second gripping jaw means actuable by said second handle structure toward and away from said first jaw means in response to said relative bodily movement of the two handle structures, said two handle structures and said two links extending about and defining an opening within which said lid is insertable, and said first and second jaw means being inwardly facing gripping surfaces formed on said two handle structures and said first link at locations to engage and grip the lid when received in said opening.

10. A device for removing the lid of a container comprising first and second handle structures manually movable toward one another, a first link pivoted at a first axis to said first handle structure and pivoted at a second and different axis to the second handle structure, a second link coacting with said first link to require bodily shifting movement of one handle structure relative to the other as the two handle structures move relatively toward one another, said second link being pivoted to said first and second structures, respectively, at third and fourth axes, olfset relative to one another and offset from said first and second axes, a gripping jaw formed near an end of said second handle structure, and second and third gripping jaws carried by said first handle structure beyond said end of the second handle structure for coacting with said first gripping jaw to grip a lid.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,442,795 6/48 Wolfe 81-304 2,913,938 11/59 Yorba 813.44

FOREIGN PATENTS 5 87,004 4/47 Great Britain.

WILLIAM FELDMAN, Primary Examiner. 

1. A DEVICE FOR REMOVING THE LID OF A CONTAINER COMPRISING FIRST AND SECOND HANDLE STRUCTURES MANUALLY MOVABLE TOWARD ONE ANOTHER, FIRST GRIPPING JAW MEANS FOR ENGAGING SAID LID AND OPERATIVELY CARIED BY SAID FIRST HANDLE STRUCTURES FOR ACTUATION THEREBY, FIRST LINK MEANS PIVOTED AT A FIRST LOCATION TO SAID FIRST HANDLE STRUCTURE AND PIVOTED AT A SECOND AND DIFFERENT LOCATION TO THE SECOND HANDLE STRUCTURE, SECOND LINK MEANS PIVOTED TO SAID HANDLE STRUCTURES AND COACTING WITH SAID FIRST LINK MEANS TO REQUIRE BODILY SHIFTING MOVEMENT OF ONE HANDLE STRUC- 